Can you easily absorb a 20% rise in your grocery bill?

[AbsentmindedWoman]

I am worried about this, predicted to come early next year. I moved abroad last year but have people I love in the UK, some are budgeting very tightly already, and there's nothing I can suggest when they are worried.

I find it really troubling. Surely this is going to be the straw that breaks the camel's back for quite a few people who are coping with limited money? It could mean the difference between being able to get by and being stuck?

Would a 20% increase in food prices be difficult for you, or just a pain in the arse?

Is there any way a price hike can be avoided?

Please will someone suggest a way out of a MN trap? I don't feel inclined to post a detailed life history online, but nor do I feel inclined to passively accept sneering from people who assume they know it.

I know a great deal about extreme poverty and literal starvation.

I know a great deal about extreme poverty and literal starvation.

Look, we all know that there are countries in the world where things are a great deal worse. But that isn't an argument in favour of thinking that there is no poverty in the UK. It's often trotted out as such, though.

20mum You're very ignorant. We want children to have enough to thrive, not to manage to stay alive.

My biggest worry is that, those people who currently donate to food banks will no longer be able to afford to do so. The knock on effect there will have severe health consequences.

Ours has got more expensive but we've also had a new baby this year so are back to buying nappies/wipes and lots of extra fruit and veg now he's weaning.

My biggest worry is that, those people who currently donate to food banks will no longer be able to afford to do so.
I've been wondering why there is no foodbank collection at Aldi or Lidl. I mostly shop at Aldi, I could afford to donate more there too.

Like @Graphista said, it is going to get very hard for a lot of people. If your income is very low and you are struggling already, there is no way you can absorb a 20% increase in food prices if you are already buying the cheapest (cheapest items and shopping at Lidl/Aldi). It is not possible. Just look at the high demand for food banks even before the economic shock of Covid, and with more to follow from Brexit unless we get a deal.

I've noticed my grocery bills going up and have tried to cut back, I'm lucky enough that I can absorb it.

When I was younger & my DF was out of work during the 80s & the time of 3 million unemployed. (DF's employer went bust & they employed many in our area)
Benefits were even crappier than they are now (even though they're not that much better now)
DM & DF always made sure me & my siblings were fed but they'd save the milk for our cereal by going without milk in their tea/coffee.
And on Sundays we always had a roast or or a Fray Bentos pie. But Sunday teatime was usually ketchup on toast as that was all that was left until the money came in the next day & DM could go food shopping.
Luckily my DGM & my Dad's Auntie helped us out a bit when they could.
Luckily my DF did find work but it c was always temporary jobs until the economy improved. Then he got a permanent job.

It's not nice being hungry.

We can afford it.

We can but I don’t want to! I started preparing over the past 2 years, squirrelling things away that would be affected by tariffs. It put us in good stead for COVID because we already had a lot of pasta and chopped tomatoes in when it all started happening, but we got through a lot of it during lockdown so now things are available again I’m topping up my supplies week by week to spread the cost. It’s things like pasta, rice, oil, tomato products, olives, chocolate etc. I also got an allotment a little over a year ago to grow my own salad/veg - planning to get a greenhouse to be able to do peppers etc this year. Having an allotment is quite time consuming but good exercise and good for the mental health. I see a lot of families bringing their kids, it’s not like the stereotype of old men 😊

@20mum if so then why post the way you did? Doesn't make sense

Going hungry is bloody awful, you're not just hungry you can feel lousy in several ways - headaches, dizziness, nausea, chills/feeling the cold more which is going to be miserable considering this will hit at the coldest time of year!

Total shit show!

Even if they'd brought it forward to the summer just gone that might have been better (covid aside)

This is going to be hitting RIGHT at the peak of winter illness season anyway, a time when people really need good nutrition.

It's fucking callous what they've done!

And the people MOST responsible for this debacle (the likes of farage, murdoch, Cameron, jrm...) won't suffer one fucking iota!! And nor will anyone they give a flying fuck about!

They're an absolute disgrace! No better than manslaughter in my opinion because people WILL die because of this, be it through lack of nutrition or medical issues

I find this really depressing. We are what we eat, so many people going to eat even more cheaply than they already do, invariably reducing the nutritional value of their diet.

The lucky ones will buy vegetables in season, for an exorbitant price in their local farm shop (exorbitant because there aren't enough to go round), whilst the most vulnerable will eat less veg and more cheap carbs.

Yes but it would mean cooking smarter. More batch cooking, less meat, replaced with veg etc.

I think no deal will make us vegetarian 5 days a week. Which is a good thing.

Takeaways cut down and more cooking from scratch. Bread, sauces, pizzas etc.

nancybotwinbloom veg is going to get more expensive. We aren't self sufficient in veg, imported veg will be more expensive and there will be quality issues (lorry loads of fresh produce sitting in a customs queue).

I don't know anyone who I think has to choose between heating their house or eating You either have a friendship/family group which lacks diversity or they haven't told you. When I am going through those times I would only disclose it to people I trust the most. Which isn't many people at all.

Yes but it would mean cooking smarter. More batch cooking, less meat, replaced with veg etc.
Please explain how people are meant to batch cook in a shared kitchen in a bedsit house with no access to a freezer ?

DH has already been unemployed since Jan and I am self employed and fathered a lockdown won't be able to work. So no a 20% increase would not be easy. We shop at Aldi, never eat out, never have takeaways, very rarely but coffees etc out. I think we will have to eat very little meat and more meals like jacket spuds etc.

Yes, even on just one wage we would manage. Although I know a lot of people who this would absolutely cripple. I've been donating to food banks a lot more recently as I do sympathise with the hard working families who have lost their businesses, jobs etc.

I won't be able to eat healthily at all. Both DS1 and I have food intolerances and in order not to feel constantly ill with brain fog, migraines and anxiety we have to eat dairy free low carb high fat diets with plenty of fresh veg and nuts. Pasta, bread and baked potatoes will make us really unwell.

Yes but it would mean cooking smarter. More batch cooking, less meat, replaced with veg etc.
Please explain how people are meant to batch cook in a shared kitchen in a bedsit house with no access to a freezer? Exactly. Plus what about those of us who already eat no meat/freeze leftovers wherever possible/bulk things out with cheap veg and pulses. Some people can't see past their privilege.

MattBerrysHair Exactly, so many people will become ill. I have coeliac disease and already don't have gluten free products as it's too expensive. Sometimes I'll bake or buy a packet of biscuits or a loaf of bread for a real treat but it's rare. Luckily I can eat potatoes otherwise I'd be very hungry! I already don't eat before or at work so have one meal a day. I'm underweight and worried but I'll forego more food so the children eat well.

Farmers will just get undercut even more than they already are. As bloody usual.

We probably could providing we both keep our jobs. In the past me and my husband have got by on beans on toast virtually every night and I'd do it again if I needed to to ensure my children can eat.
At the moment we're in a fortunate position but aware that could change and really feel for those who will struggle.

TracyBeakerSoYeah

In real terms benefits especially those for the sick, disabled and single people are at the lowest levels including in the 80s.

£75 pw benefit was £25 pw benefit in 1985. For a single person.

Average median wage is now £585 and was £75 per week in 1985.

If benefits had gone up with inflation in the last 10 years instead of being frozen the single person amount would be £125pwr week instead of £75per week.

The current £75 per week is an average as uc is lower at £251 per month for a single person under 25.

And those on child tax credits and legacy benefits saw nothing extra in covid.
Only those on working tax credit and universal credit got £20 extra per week under the covid funding.

No deal would mean a glut of domestically produced meat which can’t be exported to the EU because of tariffs, it’s fresh veg which will be in short supply.

Rosebel
In the past me and my husband have got by on beans on toast virtually every night and I'd do it again if I needed to to ensure my children can eat.
Beans : imported
Tomatoes for sauce : imported
Flour for toast : imported
just saying